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| RAAF No. 5 Squadron Former Assignments 1 AD 1 SFTS 5 SFTS 13 ARD |
Aircraft History Built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) in Melbourne. Constructor Number 475. Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as CA-8 Wirraway serial number A20-274. Wartime History On May 22, 1941 assigned to 1 Air Depot (1 AD). On May 27, 1941 assigned to No. 1 Service Flying Training School (1 SFTS) at Point Cook Airfield. On April 6, 1942 assigned to No. 5 Service Flying Training School (5 SFTS). On December 15, 1942 returned to CAC for modifications. On January 2, 1943 returned to 5 SFTS. On January 26, 1943 assigned to No. 5 Squadron. During June 1943 coded BF-E. On August 8, 1943 took off from Mareeba Airfield piloted by F/O R. A. H. Guyot, 12133 with navigator F/Sgt E . P. Hayward, 34890 during take off, this aircraft swung to the left as the tail lifted off. Despite a correction by the pilot, the the left landing gear broke off on impact and the left wing hit the ground and the right landing gear collapsed and slid on its belly, both crew unhurt. On August 23, 1943 assigned to 12 Repair Salvage Unit (12 RSU) then on October 14, 1943 to 13 ARD for repairs. On October 11, 1944 reassigned to No. 5 Squadron as a reserve aircraft. During December 1944 flown to Bougainville and operated from Piva North Airfield (Piva Uncle) flying tactical reconnaissance, artillery support missions and as escorts for RNZAF F4U Corsairs. On December 26, 1944 at 2:20pm took off from Piva North Airfield (Piva Uncle) on Bougainville piloted by S/L Palmer with observer F/O Hunt with a storepedos under the wing on a supply drop mission to air drop a replacement propeller to Auster A11-16 that was damaged landing near Paupoa village (Persupia village). After releasing the storepedo, this aircraft landed at 3:00pm. Afterwards, the storepedo was retrieved but it had broken when it impacted the ground and another radio message was sent to request another air drop. On December 27, 1944 at 6:30am took off took off from Piva North Airfield (Piva Uncle) on Bougainville piloted by S/L Palmer with observer Lt. Ayre with a storepedos under the wing on a supply drop mission to air drop another replacement propeller to Auster A11-16 near Paupoa village (Persupia village). After releasing the storepedo, this aircraft landed at 6:45am. Later that same day at 9:40am took off on another supply drop to the same location and returned by 10:25am. it is unclear if this was material to aid the Auster or for the ground troops. On December 28, 1944 at 10:25am took off piloted by S/L Palmer with observer F/O Fisken on a supply drop mission and returned by 11:50am. On December 29, 1944 at 1:40pm took off piloted by S/L Palmer with observer P/O Oxley on a check flight and returned by 2:10pm. On January 17, 1946 converted to components. Ultimate fate unknown and likely scrapped. References ADF Serials - Wirraway A20-274 WW2 Nominal Roll - R. A. H. Guyot AWM OG2093 (1/16/45 No. 5 Squadron strike conference including Cory) AWM OG2432 (4/11/45 No. 5 Squadron Wirraway [A2-476] handing camera to FO Bill Tucker) AWM 077733 (12/25/44 storepedo unloading from truck containing Auster propeller) AWM 077735 (12/25/44 storepedo ready for loading containing Auster propeller) AWM 077737 (12/25/44 storepedo loaded Wirraway containing Auster propeller) NAA RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 5 Squadron Jan 41 - Feb 46 (NAA: A9186, 13) page 553 (Detail of Operations) (Page 553) Detail of Operations 1/12/44 to 31/12/44 "A20-274 / S/L Palmer F/O Hunt / 1420 / 1500 / 26/12/44 / Supply Drop A20-274 / S/L Palmer Lt. Ayre / 0630 / 0645 / 27/12/44 / Supply Drop Persupia A20-274 / S/L Palmer Lt. Ayre / 0940 / 1025 / 27/12/44 / Supply Drop Persupia A20-274 / S/L Palmer F/O Fisken / 1025 / 1150 / 28/12/44 / Supply Drop A20-274 / S/L Palmer F/O Fisken / 1340 / 1410 / 28/12/44 / Check" Contribute
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